Interior GFCI Poll

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I know what I would do. How about you? Would you write up no GFCI on a bar wall? The outlet is not in the kitchen, but is within 6 feet of the sink.

[Michael Larson]

I would not call it out. It does not serve the counter.

[relliott]

With in 6 feet of a utility sink.

Yes I would call it out.

[Marc D. Shunk]

fact is, you can call out anything you want to. You would, however, have no basis in model code or rule of law on which to base your opinion.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

fact is, you can call out anything you want to. You would, however, have no basis in model code or rule of law on which to base your opinion.

Marc, you and I disagree on this one. The code states "All 125-volt, single-phase, 15-and 20-ampere receptacles that serve countertop surfaces shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel."

It doesn't say the outlet has to be in the kitchen. It refers to outlets that "serve countertops". The keyword there is "serve". Could that outlet be used to power a radio on the countertop during a party? Then Disco Dan knocks it into the sink?

Roughly 90% of those outlets in new homes are now protected by GFCI. Those builders must interpret it as required, as I do.

[relliott]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

fact is, you can call out anything you want to. You would, however, have no basis in model code or rule of law on which to base your opinion.

Guess I better delete this chart you provided.

[Michael Larson]

How do you measure 6 ft. from the edge of the sink?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

How do you measure 6 ft. from the edge of the sink?

I have measured it with a flexible tape. Usually I just estimate. When you have a bar wall with a sink on the other side of it, there is almost always an outlet directly in front of where the sink is, easily within 6 feet.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

I would not call that out. The "countertop" above the outlet appears to taper down to no more than 8 inches wide. One outlet can be seen on the kitchen side of the wall (left side of picture). I "assume" (I know, I know) that there is another outlet to the left of the sink serving the countertop, directly above and opposite the outlet of concern. You were there, if you feel it was unsafe, regardless of code, recommend it be upgraded to GFCI for safety.

[relliott]

Originally Posted by rnewland

I would not call that out. The "countertop" above the outlet appears to taper down to no more than 8 inches wide. One outlet can be seen on the kitchen side of the wall (left side of picture). I "assume" (I know, I know) that there is another outlet to the left of the sink serving the countertop, directly above and opposite the outlet of concern. You were there, if you feel it was unsafe, regardless of code, recommend it be upgraded to GFCI for safety.

Robert I think the intent of this rule is that an average plug is 6 feet.

Place a corded appliance at the sink and you get shocked.
Make sense?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

The bar wall shown is just an example illustration. I see similar setups in 3 out of 5 new homes I inspect. Here's another one from today that I wrote up. Sink on the other side of the opening. Outlet directly below the opening.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I would not call it out. It does not serve the counter.

Ditto. . .

[Michael Larson]

Joe you never did say what year or under which NEC applies to either home.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I would not call it out. It does not serve the counter.

Then what does it "serve"? Almost everything you could conceive of plugging into that outlet, except for a vacuum, has to rest on the countertop!

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Joe you never did say what year or under which NEC applies to either home.

My code quote above was from the 2006 IRC.